Game



July 21, 1925. 1.546.449

' J. LAVERY GAME Filed May 19, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tr?! 9-I 1 1 lll Cil

Patented .lilly 2l, l925.

JAMES LAVERY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GAME.

Application lled May 19, 1921. Serial No. 470,816.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.'

"je it known that l, Jarras Lavnnr, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at {lleveland, in the county olf Cuyahoga and State otl Ohio, have invented certain new and nselnl improvements in and Relating to Gaines, ot which the "followingI is a, specification.

This invention relates to a gaine or ainnsement device.

One object of the invention is to provide a gaine comprising)r a board and playing devices capable ot co-operation thereon and with each other to make plays which al'liord annisenient and interest to the players.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved gaine comprising devices that are coi-operative in a manner nn. :e varying plays, wherein opportunity is all'orded to each player to exercise his skill l* and judgment to the end that rauch amusement, recreation and interest results.

A further object oi the invention is to provide a. game ot the baseball type, in which substantially' all ot the plays ol an actual baseball gaine` may be effected and wherein the skill and judgment ot' the playerg,` must be exercised in batting and throwing ol the `ball device to insure snccess'tnl plays and winning ot the game.

@ther objects ot the invention will 'be apparent to those skilled in the art to lwhich my invention relates from the tollowin,r description taken in connection with the accompanying' drawings.

Figure l is a plan view ot a board or surface somewhat reduced, on which the gama enibodying my invention is played.

2 a section on the line 2-2 ot Figs. and 4l are lulbsized plan views and edgeviews, respectively, ot a pad which is 1ased in playing the gaine.

Figs. 5 and 6 are 'fullsized plan and edge views, respectively, ot devices used by each ol the players.

Fi Tlv-.nd 8 are lull-sized plan and edge viy j. respectively, 'of the device which constitutes the ball in playing the game.

' liigs. 9 and l() are lull-sized plan and edge views, respectively, of one oft the devices representing a man on one side or team.

Fig. ll is a full-sized plan view ot a device representing` one of the nien on the other side or team.

in the drawing, l indicates as an entirety,

a lield, preferably ot" rectangular shape.. The field l, except for sections or portions hereinafter-to be recterred to, may be colored.. green to represent grass,.thus giviingtheA lield a natural appearance ineffect. 9. indie cates the diamond comprisino' a home'plate and batters box 3, ay catcher-'sterritory vor section 3, surrounding the batters box, a.

lirst base l, al second basey V5, a third base 6 and a pitchers box 7.these4be1ng connectedI by bars 9, l0, ll, 12,13, to represent paths or base lines whereby the -usualballdiainond` is represented orusein carrying out. and conforming tothe pre-arrangedrules ofthe game. Each base is preferably represented by a square and suitably marked as shown in the drawings. l

The pitcher-s box 7. is .preferably colored blue. lVit-hin the pitchersbox isa p ad lil, preferablyv ot' circular shape, and formed of relatively sott: material, such a-s felt, The pad 14 is preferably .lixedi to the surface of the field l'by any suitable means (such as glue) and is used tor pitching 'or throwing` the ball Vin the manner to be later set forth. The home plate and balterls box 3 comprises apad l5 ot relatively sojlit ma terial, snch as felt, for use in the manner te be later -set forth, and a padl Jreterably oi circular shape, surrounding tlie .pad vand also 'formed ofrelatively soft material,.,such as telt. The padsvl, 5 and catchers section 3 are cooperative with the playing devices ot' the. game tope-rinit otand ellect certain plays requiredl or desired as thegaine progresses.v 'llliepads l5, l5 and section 3 are ot diiierent colors (the latter being preferably blue), whereby vthe posi tion ot the ball device, when pitched to the` batter, may be readily determined. l? indicates a section or territory.surrounding the first lbase .l to represent the territory or portion of `the lield covered by the first baseman. lt la batter knocks the ball and it lands on orcomes to rest in or'in contact with this section, theplay.isconsidered a fly-catch andthe batter is counted contl 18 indicates a similar section or territory lor the third baseman. 19, 19', indicate.- sections ext-ending to either side ot the runners paths o-rbase lines l0, 1l, respectively, and representing the territory covered by the second baseman and short-stop, respectively; it a batter knocks the ball and it landsin or comesto rest incontact with one of the sections 19, 19', the batter is counted out and also the runner nearest home, if there is no ruimer on the bases, only the batter is counted out These sections are preferably designated doubleplay.

' 20, 21, 22, indicate sections or territories corresponding to those portions of the field ycovered by the right lielder, center fielder and left fielder respectively; if a batter knocks the ball and it lands in or comes to rest in contact with one of these sections, the play is considered a fly-catch and the batter is counted out Those portions of the field at eitherside of the catchers box 3 and outside of the diamond, indicated at 23 are considered foul sections or territories and in the event the ball, when hit by a batter, lands or rolls into either of these sections, the play is considered a foul strike, unless Vthe batter has Vtwo strikes registered against him, in which event the foul is conside-red a dead ball.

24e indicates a relatively wide section eX- tending around the edge of that portion of the section 3 disposed between the diamond paths or base lines 9 and 12. This sect-ion is preferably colored white and marked sacritice hit and if the vball lands in or comes to rest in contact with this section it is considered a sacrifice hit and the batter is counted out In the event there are any runners 0n the bases, they are movedr up one base, respectively.

That portion of the field extending from a transverse line cutting the first and third bases to the rear edge of the surface 1 is divided into iield sections 211, 25, 2G, 27, by transverse lines 24, 25', 26. If the ball is batted into Vthe section 24, and does not con tact with any of the sections or territories, 17, 18, 19, 19, 20, 21, 22, the play is counted a single hit and the batter takes first base, each runner 0n a base being moved up one base; and the runner on third base (if a runner is on this base) scoring; if the batter ball lands in section 25, it is counted a twobase hit, the batter takes second base and each runner on a. base is moved up twoY bases and the runners on second orthird, or both (if either or both of these bases are occupied), scoring runs; likewise, if the batted ball landsv in the section 26, it is counted a three-base hit and the batter takes third base, all runners that happen to be on basesscoring runs; inthe event the batted ball lands lin section 27 it is counted a home run forl the batter and all runners that happen to be on bases score runs. The territories 24;, 25, ,26 and 27 may be suitably marked single, two-base hit, three-base hit and ,liome run, respectivelyt 28 indicates the device which constitutes the ball in playing the game and which is impelled by the pitcher to the batter and bythe batter to different portions 0f the field as he may determine upon, andthen Y impelled to any other portion of the iield to carry out and produce varying plays that may and do occur in any ordinary base-. ball game; such operations corresponding to pitching, batting, and throwing of the ordinary baseball. The device 28 comprises a relatively small disk formed of suitable material, such as ivory or celluloid. 29 indicates the devices (only one being shown) used by the (a) pitcher (player representing the defensive or out side) to pitch or throw the ball 28, batter (player representing each of the men on'the offensive or in side) to bat the balls pitched by the pitcher and the player (when repre` senting each of the remaining men of the .out side) to throw the ball from one base, section or territory to another base, section;

or territory in connection with various plays taking place as the game progresses. I preferably provide two devices 29, one for each player'. The devices 29 are relatively large and preferably formed from material similar to that used for making the balldevice 28. In pitching, throwing and batting the ball, the player takes the disk 29 and slidably moves its edge over the sur# face of the disk 28, pressing downen the disk 28 to the desired eXtent'and thereby impels it in the desired direction for effecting a play.

80, 30, indicatethe disks which constitute and represent themen for the two teams playing (only one man for cach side being shown). I prefer to provide nine disks, such as indicated at 30 and nine disks such as indicated at 30', the'disks of each set being numbered 1 to 9, respectively, and those of one set (30) colored differently from those of the other set (30) to make them readily distinguished from each other. This arrangement permits a' full line-up of the men on each team at the bat and a complete game to be carried out.

31 indicates a section of felt or other soft material which is preferably provided for use when the ball is to be thrown by a ball player (other than the pitcher) to a base or to the catcher. The section of material 31 is not fixed to the surface 1 but is adapted to beplaced underneath the ball, wherever it is to be thrown from, in order that the player representing the out side may effectively use the disk 29 to impel (throw) the disk 28. It will be'understood that where the surface 1 is formed from a soft material, the section of felt is not required; but in the ordinary use of my invention,'I prefer to form the surface or field lyupon a paper or cloth board 1a', in which event the section 81 is desirable in order that the disk 28 may be operated with ease and'correctly. In the exercise of the players skill`r the board la may be made in sections hinged together, whereby it may be folded. into a coinpact space.

Operation or manner off playing: vTwo persons may play the game,one representing and playing for e'ach of the 'men on one side or team and the other 'representing and playing for each of the men on the other side or team. As alread set forth, the disk 28 represents the ball. ach player is provided with one ot the disks 29 and operates it upon the disk 28 to pitch, throw or bat it, as the case may be.

Pitching: The defensive or out-side player, when pitching the ball, places the disk or ball on the section 'of `telt '14 in the pitchers box; he 'then presses his largel disk 29 on Vthe ball, moving it thereov'er toward its rear edge, such operation serving 'to impelthe ball 28 to or toward the batters box 8. The primary aim of 'the pitcher is toy strike the batter out, as three such outs will retire the in or offensive side. It 'the pitched balllan'ds or comes to rest wholly or partly on the pad 15, which is home plate, the play is counted a strike. It three strikes are registered against the batter, he is counted out It the pitched ball lands or comes to rest Ywholly or partly on the Vpad which surrounds the home plate 15, the batter may bat or hit the ball; in the event he does Vnot bat the ball, the play is counted a strike. It the pitched ball landsor cornes to rest -on some portion ot thesurface 1 other than upon or in contact with the pad 15 or pad 15', the play is counted a ball, and if four balls are pitched, the batter, that is, one of the men or runners o-r 30 representing the in side is given lirst base.

`Batting: Batting is effected by the player for the offensive or in side, the batting for each of the nine men 30 or 30 whom A he represents, as Yeachinning progresses. To

bat ythe ball, the .player presses his large disk 29 on the ball, moving it thereover rear wardly, and such operation impels the ball in the direction intended by the player. The player at the bat waits until the pitcher pitches a ball that is eligible to be batted, that is, a ball which lanes or comes to rest on the pad 15-, unless. he istirst struck out. llpon receiving an eligible ball, the lplayer bats or impels the ball in the manner above described to any desired portion of the field 1. depending upon his judgment and skill. It a batted ball rolls or and'cornes to rest in a foul section 23, it is. a foul strike, unless the batter already has two strikes registered against him, in which fevent it is counted a dead ball. 1f the batted ball comes to rest in or in contact with any of the sections designated 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 or 22, it is counted an out, also, if the ball rolls otlE the field or surface 1, it is counted an out If three outs are scored, the in side retires, that is, the player who has'been batting, pitches andl tliefplay'er 'who has'bee'n pitching and 'representing the other Inen on the out side, bats. 1t a batted ball lands or cornes to rest in one off 'the field 'sections 24, 25 or 26fr'ee from contact with any of thesecti'ons or territories17, 18, 1-9, 20, 21 or 22, 'the play is counted fa single, a two-base hit, -or a three-base hit, according to the section 'where theballl lands, and the batter is given a base corresponding to the play, that is, one of the runners 30 or 30 is placed on the `corresponding base; in the event there Vare any runners on'tlhe bases, they move up or advance accordingly and 'score if the play carries any 'or all of them ho1ne. It'laf batted ball lands inthe 4section 'or territory 2T, the batter is credited with ahomeru-n; likewise, all runners on bases are advanced and counted as scoring runs. the balked ball, when coming to rest, overilaps orrests on two adjacent 'sections 24 25, 26or 27 I prefer that the playbe counted for that sect-ion whichgives fthebatterf'the smaller number 'of bases. V

Sacrifice hit: It yat any time :the player. for the o'l'iensive or in side decides that he wishes to make a sacrifice hit, he bats the ball 28 into fthe section -or territory 24". lt he succeeds, vthe Jbatter is counted out', but each runner on a base is advanced one base; it'the ball comes to rest in some other section .Y or territory olf the field' 1, the play is counted accordingly. y

Sacrili'ce fly: 1f a''ter a Abatted ball lands in one 'of the sect-ions 20, 21 or 22 'the player for the o'iensive or in side wishes tol advance a runner ona lbase to the next base or h'onjie plate 3, he informs the player for t-hed'efensive or out side of'. such play; the defensiveiplayer then p'lra'ce's the section of 'felt 31 underneath the ball, and by the use of his disk 29 imfpels the ball to the base tofw'hich the advance is 'to be made, and ifthe balllands 'or comes to rest lon the section or territory surrounc'ling that base, the runner is counted out; otherwise, he is safe Stolen bases: .It the player tor the offensive side dec'ides to have 'a runner on a bases'teal to the next base, he informs the player for the defensive side; the defensive player then throws the ball from either the pitchers box or the caltchers box tothe base which is being stolen and if the balljlands or comes 'to rest in the section 'surrounding that base, the runner is out; otherwise, he is counted safe From the foregoingdescription 'itwill be seen'that the 4lield 1 and thev playing devices 28, 29, 30, 30", co-operate to ,provide agame in rwhich substantially all the plays olfv areal baseball game maybe effected; and further,

InA the event A that in playing the game the full complement of men for each side may be utilized in playing the game inning by inning and the plays of each man noted and recorded, asin an ordinary game. It will also be seen that successful plays depend entirely uponthe skill and judgment of each player in causing a co-action between a disk Q9 and thek disk 28 'to impel the ball from the pitcher7s box'to the home plate or from the home plate to some desired territory in the field, or from the latter to another territory, whereby ymuch l interest, recreation and amusement is afforded.

The sections or territories 7, 17, 18, 19, 19, 20,21 and 22 are preferably colored alike, the color blue being shown` in the drawings. To provideV for various plays and conditions of the ordinary game, definite rules may be provided for playing the game; for example, in throwing the ball to a base or home plate inan. attempt to put a runner out, if the ball comes to rest entirely on a base or a base line,it may be counted an error and the runner counted sate7 It will also be seen that the playing devices and operation thereof are relatively simple and inexpensive, but dueto their cooperation` and adaptability for eifecting pitching, batting and throwing of the ball from point to point, I have provided a novel game wherein practically all the plays of an ordinary baseball game can be e'ected and at thesame time create much interest and amusement by reason of the fact that the success or' these plays depends entirely upon the skill of the two players and thus makes the outcome of the game constantly uncertain due to the varying plays and the uncertain results which may fall therefrom.

To those skilled in the art of making devices of the class described, many alterations in construction and Widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, Without' departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrativeV and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. n

What I claim is: Y

1. In a game, the combinationot a surface representing` a baseball fieldV having a diamond and sections or territories corresponding to the positions ot the respective members of a team or side, an impelling device to be used by a player, a device representing a baseball adapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from any one section on said field to any other sectionthereon to e'flect consecutive plays, and a pad adapted to be positioned underneath said baseball device Wherever the latter may come to rest.

2. In a game, the combination of a surface representing a baseball ieid having a diamond vand sections or territories corresponding to thepositions of the respective members of a team or side, animpelling deviceto be used by arplayer, a device representing a baseball jadaptedto be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from any one section on said iield to any other sectionr thereon to eiiect Vconsecutive plays and pads, oneof Which is movable, on which said'baseball device is positioned prior to operation. f

In a game, the combination'of a surface representing a baseball field having a diamond and sections or territories for the positions ot the respective members of a team or side, an impelling device to be used by a player, a device representing a baseball adaptedto be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from any one section on said iield to any other section thereon, and a plurality of devices representing runners adapted to be positioned on the bases-ofthe diamond and advanced therearound in accordance With the lmovements of the device representing a baseball.

4. In a game, the combination of a surface representing a baseball field having a diamond including a conventional pitchers box and catchers box, sections of relatively sott material in each of said boxes, an impelling device to be used by a player, and a device representing a baseball arranged to be positioned on said sections of material and adapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from either ot said sections to any portion of said l'ield or dia mond.

i 5. In a game, the combination of a surface representing a baseball field having a dia mond including a pitchers box and a catoliers box, a section of relatively soft material in said catchers box, an annular section ot relatively soft material in said catchers box and surrounding said iirst-mentioned section of material, an impelling device to be used by a player, anda device representing a baseball arranged to be positioned in said pitcher-s box, to be received in said catchers box and adapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from each of said boxes to any portion of said field or diamond.

G In a game, the combination of a surface representing a baseball lield having a diamond including a pitchers box and a catchers box comprising a territory and superimposed sections of relatively sott' ma,- terials one Within the'other centrally disposed in said territory, an impelling device to be used by a player, and a device representing a baseball arranged to be positioned or received in said boxes and adapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from each of said boxes to any portion of said iield or diamond.

7. In a game, the combination of a surface representing a baseball ield having a diamond including a pitchers boX and a catchers box, a section of rela-tively soft material in one of said boxes, an impelling device to be used by a player, a device representing a baseball arranged to be positioned in said boxes andadapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled from each of said boxes to any portion of said field or diamond, and a pad arranged to be positioned underneath said baseball device at the place Where it cornes to rest whereby it may be engaged by said impelling device and impelled to another portion of said i'ield to effect consecutive plays.

8. In a game, the combination of a gameboard having a surface representing a baseball field having a diamond including a pitchers box and a eatchers box and sections or territories corresponding to the positions of the respective members of a team or side, an impelling device to be used by a player, and a device representing a baseball adapted to be engaged by said impelling device and impelled over the surface to effect consecutive plays, certain plays being determined by the character of the section occupied at the end of the preceding move by the device representing the baseball.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES LAVERY. 

